QUILTING STAND

Abstract

A stand includes a horizontal beam supported at two opposite ends by two respective footed legs. The legs and beam are sized to straddle a chair or bed while a human user is sitting in the chair or bed. A top surface of the beam is at a vertical level such that the user may comfortably quilt with a quilting hoop supported by the top surface of the beam. Two lateral supports are attached to the beam in spaced apart relationship and extend above the top surface of the beam. The supports are spaced apart by a distance less than a width of a quilting hoop such that the quilting hoop may be partially inserted between and abut against the supports while being supported by the beam. The supports limit movement of the hoop in lateral directions and in a direction away from the user while the hoop is being supported by the beam.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Description of the Related Art

Quilting hoops, such as quilting hoop 10 in FIG. 1, are generally placed in a sitting user's lap and used to hold a partially-completed quilt that the user is working on. Quilting hoops may range from about one to three feet across in width, and may have a generally circular or oval shape. A problem is that the user may work on a quilt for hours at a time with his shoulders hunched over the hoop and quilt in his lap, which becomes very physically tiring.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a quilting stand that supports a quilting hoop at approximately the chest or shoulder level of a user while he is in a sitting in a chair or sitting up in bed. Thus, the user may comfortably sit back or lie back while quilting, which reduces the user's fatigue while quilting for long hours. The stand may also support a quilt hoop above the chest of a user who is lying in bed, thereby enabling the user to comfortably quilt while lying down. The stand may be sized and provided with support legs such that the stand may straddle a stuffed chair or bed that the user wishes to be in while he quilts. The stand may also include two or more horizontal beams which enable the stand to double as a quilt rack while not being used in quilting.

The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a stand including a horizontal beam supported at two opposite ends by two respective footed legs. The legs and beam are sized to straddle a chair or bed while a human user is sitting in the chair or bed. A top surface of the beam is at a vertical level such that the user may comfortably quilt with a quilting hoop supported by the top surface of the beam. Two lateral supports are attached to the beam in spaced apart relationship and extend above the top surface of the beam. The supports are spaced apart by a distance less than a width of a quilting hoop such that the quilting hoop may be partially inserted between and abut against the supports while being supported by the beam. The supports limit movement of the hoop in lateral directions and in a direction away from the user while the hoop is being supported by the beam.

The invention comprises, in another form thereof, a stand including a horizontal beam supported at two opposite ends by two respective legs. The legs and the beam define an open space between the legs and below the beam. A top surface of the beam is approximately between thirty and forty inches above a bottom surface of at least one of the legs. Each of two lateral supports is attached to the beam at a respective adjustable location along a length of the beam. At least a portion of each support is disposed above the top surface of the beam.

The invention comprises, in yet another form thereof, a quilting stand including a horizontal beam supported at two opposite ends by two respective legs. The legs and beam are sized to straddle a chair or bed while a human user is sitting in the chair or bed. A top surface of the beam is at or below a shoulder level of the user sitting in the chair or bed. Two lateral supports are attached to the beam in spaced apart relationship and extend above the top surface of the beam. The supports are spaced apart by a distance less than a width of a quilting hoop such that the quilting hoop may be partially inserted between the supports. Each of the supports has a surface with a section that is generally oriented to face the user and that is non-perpendicular to a length of the beam such that the partially inserted hoop may abut against the section of the surface. The supports limit movement of the hoop in lateral directions and in a direction away from the user while the hoop is being supported by the beam.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective, partially exploded view illustrating a first embodiment of a quilting stand of the present invention along with a conventional quilting hoop;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the quilting stand straddling a reclining chair, as the quilting stand could be positioned in use with a user sitting in the chair, with the feet of the stand extending away from the chair;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 a is a fragmentary top view of a beam of another embodiment of a quilting stand of the present invention;

FIG. 4 b is a fragmentary top view of the beam of FIG. 4a with two lateral supports attached thereto and supporting a quilting hoop according to the embodiment of FIG. 4a; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top view of a beam of yet another embodiment of a quilting stand of the present invention with two lateral supports attached thereto and supporting a quilting hoop.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown one embodiment of a quilting stand 12 of the present invention which may be used to support quilting hoop 10. Stand 12 includes a top horizontal beam 14 on which hoop 10 may rest, as shown in FIG. 3. Opposite ends of beam 14 are supported by vertical legs 16a-b having respective feet 18a-b extending towards the viewer in FIG. 1 (i.e., away from a user of stand 12 who is quilting). A top surface of beam 14 is at a vertical level such that the user may comfortably quilt with quilting hoop 10 supported by the top surface of beam 14. For example, the top surface of beam 14 may be at or below the shoulder level of the user. Feet 18a-b provide stability when hoop 10 is being pressed against beam 14 in a direction having components generally downward and towards the viewer of FIG. 1.

Each of legs 16a-b has a respective throughhole 20a-b in which respective opposite ends of a cylindrical bar 22 are received. Bar 22 may be freely slidable in throughholes 20a-b such that bar 22 may be removed from stand 12 while quilting and inserted for use as a quilt rack when not quilting.

A lower edge 23 of beam 14 may be arched about two to four inches in a vertical direction such that lower edge 23 (FIG. 1) is higher in the middle of beam 14 than at the beam's opposite ends. That is, a span 25 of edge in the vertical direction may be approximately between two and four inches. Thus, more spaced is afforded a user (perhaps for the user's legs in particular) in the middle of beam 14 where the user is likely to be positioned during use.

Beam 14 includes a series of throughholes 24a-d spaced apart along its length. Two arched lateral supports 26a-b include respective pairs of throughholes 28a-b which may be aligned with respective throughholes 24a-d so that lateral supports 26a-b may be removably attached to beam 14 with respective pegs 30a-b. That is, pegs 30a-b may be inserted into aligned through holes of supports 26a-b and beam 14. The two of the four throughholes 24a-d that are used to receive the two pegs 30a-b and thereby attach supports 26a-b may be selected by the user so as to provide a desired distance between supports 26a-b in lateral directions 32 (FIG. 2). For instance, the user may desire that the distance between supports 26a-b be somewhat less than the width or diameter of hoop 10 such that hoop 10 can be braced against both supports 26a-b without hoop 10 be able to pass between supports 26a-b. Thus, the adjustability of the distance between supports 26a-b may accommodate hoops of different sizes. Quilting hoop 10 may be partially inserted between and may abut against each of supports 26a-b while being supported by beam 14.

As shown in FIG. 1, in one specific embodiment, stand 12 has the following dimensions: thirteen inches between throughholes 24b, 24c; twenty-one inches between throughholes 24a, 24d; thirty-four inches in height; forty-three inches in width; height of bar 22 is twenty inches; lateral supports 26a-b seven inches in height; and feet 18a-b plus legs 16a-b fifteen inches in length. Thus, the stand shown in FIG. 1 may accommodate hoops having a diameter greater than about thirteen inches and less than about twenty-one inches.

In other embodiments, the quilting stand may be formed of plastic or metal such that legs 16a-b, beam 14 and/or bar 22 may be made to be telescoping to an adjustable height/length/width.

Instead of throughholes 24, the lateral supports may be clamped to beam 14 such that the distance between the lateral supports is infinitely adjustable.

Instead of lateral supports 26, a computer keyboard tray may be attached to beam 14 by use of throughholes 24. Thus, an ergonomic support and placement of the keyboard may be provided for a person sitting in a stuffed chair, reclining chair, or bed.

In another embodiment of a quilting stand of the invention shown in FIG. 4a, six throughholes 124a-f are provided in beam 114. Throughholes 124a-f are not oriented perpendicular to the length of beam 114, as in the embodiment of FIG. 1, but rather are each oriented at an angle approximately between 45 and 90 degrees relative to the length of beam 114. As can be seen in FIG. 4a, a respective inner edge 134a-f of each of throughholes 124a-f is angled such that it faces a user positioned in direction 136.

As shown in FIG. 4b, each lateral support 126a-b is correspondingly slanted relative to the length of beam 114, and includes correspondingly slanted throughholes (not shown) that receive pegs 130a-b. Each support 126a-b has an inwardly facing lateral surface 138a-b. A middle section of each surface 138a-b (e.g., a portion of each surface 138a-b that is directly above beam 114) may abut against hoop 110, which may result in a more secure engagement. Surfaces 138a-b may be flat as shown. Alternatively, surfaces 138a-b may be concave in lateral directions (i.e., not in vertical directions) with a radius that is greater that the radius of hoop 110.

In yet another embodiment of a quilting stand of the invention shown in FIG. 5, multiple pairs of throughholes (only one pair 224a-b of which is shown in FIG. 5) may be provided in beam 214. Throughholes 224a-b may be oriented perpendicular to the length of beam 214 and may receive respective pegs 230a-b. Each lateral support 226a-b includes an inwardly facing convex, arcuate surface 238a-b. A section of each surface 238a-b (e.g., a portion of each surface 138a-b that is directly above beam 214) may abut against hoop 210.

Each of supports 126a-b, 226a-b has a respective surface 138a-b, 238a-b with a section that is generally oriented to face the user and that is non-perpendicular to a length of the beam such that the partially inserted hoop may abut against the section of the surface.

While the present invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Claims

1. A stand comprising: a horizontal beam supported at two opposite ends by two respective footed legs, the legs and beam being sized to straddle a chair or bed while a human user is sitting in the chair or bed, a top surface of the beam being at a vertical level such that the user may comfortably quilt with a quilting hoop supported by the top surface of the beam; andtwo lateral supports attached to the beam in spaced apart relationship and extending above the top surface of the beam, the supports being spaced apart by a distance less than a width of a quilting hoop such that the quilting hoop may be partially inserted between and abut against the supports while being supported by the beam, the supports being configured to limit movement of the hoop in lateral directions and in a direction away from the user while the hoop is being supported by the beam.

2. The stand of claim 1, wherein the distance between the lateral supports is adjustable.

3. The stand of claim 1 wherein a height of the stand is adjustable.

4. The stand of claim 1 wherein a width of the stand is adjustable.

5. The stand of claim 1 wherein each of the feet is configured to extend from the respective leg in a direction away from the user.

6. The stand of claim 1 further comprising a selectively removable bar having opposite ends, each of the opposite ends being coupled to a respective one of the legs, the bar being configured to support a quilt when the stand is not in use for quilting.

7. The stand of claim 1 wherein the beam has an upwardly arched lower surface.

8. A stand comprising: a horizontal beam supported at two opposite ends by two respective legs, the legs and the beam defining an open space between the legs and below the beam, a top surface of the beam being approximately between thirty and forty inches above a bottom surface of at least one of the legs; andtwo lateral supports, each said support being attached to the beam at a respective adjustable location along a length of the beam, at least a portion of each said support being disposed above the top surface of the beam.

9. The stand of claim 8, wherein a distance between the lateral supports is adjustable.

10. The stand of claim 8 wherein a height of the stand is adjustable.

11. The stand of claim 8 wherein a width of the stand is adjustable.

12. The stand of claim 8 further comprising a selectively removable bar having opposite ends, each of the opposite ends being coupled to a respective one of the legs, the bar being configured to support a quilt when the stand is not in use for quilting.

13. The stand of claim 8 wherein the beam has an upwardly arched lower surface.

14. A quilting stand comprising: a horizontal beam supported at two opposite ends by two respective legs, the legs and beam being sized to straddle a chair or bed while a human user is sitting in the chair or bed, a top surface of the beam being configured to be at or below a shoulder level of the user sitting in the chair or bed; andtwo lateral supports attached to the beam in spaced apart relationship and extending above the top surface of the beam, the supports being spaced apart by a distance less than a width of a quilting hoop such that the quilting hoop may be partially inserted between the supports, each of the supports having a surface with a section generally oriented to face the user and non-perpendicular to a length of the beam such that the partially inserted hoop may abut against the section of the surface, the supports being configured to limit movement of the hoop in lateral directions and in a direction away from the user while the hoop is being supported by the beam.

15. The stand of claim 14 wherein the section of the support surface is directly above the beam.

16. The stand of claim 14 wherein the section of the support surface is flat.

17. The stand of claim 14 wherein the section of the support surface is arcuate.

18. The stand of claim 17 wherein the section of the support surface is concave.

19. The stand of claim 17 wherein the section of the support surface is convex.

20. The stand of claim 14 further comprising a selectively removable bar having opposite ends, each of the opposite ends being coupled to a respective one of the legs, the bar being configured to support a quilt when the stand is not in use for quilting.